N.Y.-N.J. rail barge service expansion possible

Environmental study also will look at pros and cons of building a freight tunnel to connect New Jersey and Brooklyn.    The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has signed a contract for an environmental study to compare the environmental pros and cons of expanding its existing barge service that moves railcars four miles between the Greenville rail yard in Jersey City, New Jersey and the 65th Street rail yard in Brooklyn or building a rail tunnel under New York Harbor to move freight.
   The Tier II study will be performed by Cross Harbor Partners, a joint venture between the companies STV and AKRF.   
   The Port Authority’s Cross Harbor Freight Program seeks to shift freight from trucks in order to reduce wear and tear on New York area roadways and bridges.
   The Tier II review is expected to take three years to complete. At that point, if additional funding is secured, the project would enter the preliminary engineering phase.
   The Port Authority acquired New York New Jersey Rail, which operates the rail barge, in 2008. The rail “carfloat,” as it is known, takes about 45 minutes to cross the harbor. The barges traditionally have moved 14 rail cars at a time, although an article in Workboart Magazine last November said a new barge would be able to carry 18 60-foot railcars.